At least one race evolves before the Shadows and First Ones. One of which, named Lorien, claims to be "father" of the First Ones; Shadows arise; Other First Ones , beginning with the Walkers arise. The last of the First Ones, the Vorlons enters on the galactic scene.

First appearance of Drafa on Markab homeworld; Ikarrans wiped out by their own machines of war; The Shadows make ready for war, but are caught before they are ready. On the verge of victory, the Minbari's base is destroyed; Valen arrives from the future, bringing with him a new base to fight the Shadows. Valen creates the Anla-shok. Valen restructures the Minbari government; uniting the castes through the Grey Council; A confederation of worlds, including the Vorlon, Tak’Cha and Minbari, and possibly the Narn and Markab, defeat the Shadows.

(January) Babylon 5 formally opened; The Vorlon Empire sends an ambassador, Kosh Neranek, to Babylon 5 . He was nearly killed by an assassination plot by a group of Minbari, Narn, and Human agents.

2258 C.E.

(January) First case of the New Drafa Plague discovered on Markab homeworld. Ragesh 3, a Centauri agricultural colony, is captured by Narn forces, but are forced to withdraw; (April) Radical Pro-Earth group, Homeguard, attacks and disfigures Minbari poet, Sha'al Mayan; (June) Warmaster Jha'Dur is found still alive. She offers an immortality serum to the galaxy, and is killed by a Vorlon warship; (August 3) Centauri Ambassador Londo Mollari "wins" the services of the Shadows. Centauri recover the Eye; (August) Humans allowed to participate in the Mutai;Epsilon 3 revealed to be a storehouse of a dead civilization's technology; (December 31) Narn military base at Quadrant 37 destroyed by the Shadows at Londo's request.

(October) Unsuccessful Mars Rebellion led by Free Mars; (November) Babylon 4 reappears briefly to allow her crew to evacuate before disappearing again

2259 C.E.

(January 9) The reason the Minbari surrendered revealed to the Babylon 5 command staff. Renegade Minbari warship Trigati destroyed; (January 19) Narns discover that the Shadows are awake; (January 29) Human Technomages leave for the other side of the Rim to avoid a "Great Storm." First time Drazi "leadership war" becomes lethal; (February 29) Shadow Warrior discovered heading for Z'ha'dum; (April) Narn controlled Quadrant 14 wiped out by the Shadows at Londo Mollari's request. Centauri Emperor Turhan dies. Radical faction, led by Lord Refa, vies for power seat. Prime Minister murdered. Puppet Emperor Cartagia installed on the Centauri throne. Narn declares war on the Centauri; (May) Sh'lassen Triumvirate's Civil War ended with Earth Alliance support in Operation Sudden Death; (June) Streib invasion plans deterred by Earth Alliance warship Agamemnon . Grey Council replaces Delenn with Neroon, a member of the Warrior Caste. The Council is now unbalanced with four warrior caste members. Lumati agree to an alliance with Earth; (September) Markab civilization extinct due to New Drafa Plague; (October) The Narn, in a desperate attempt to turn the war in their favor, attack the Centauri supply depot at Gorash. Their entire fleet is destroyed; (October) The Centauri conquer the Narn; (October) The Tuchanq overthrow their Narn oppressors. Their ecology in ruins, they applied for aid on Babylon 5. They eventually accepted help from the Centauri and became another "protectorate" of their growing Empire; The Centauri expand their war to include the Drazi and pak'ma'ra; (December 27) Humans sign Non-Agression Treaty with the Centauri; "Being of Light" appears on Babylon 5

Ranger base on the Drazi planet Zagros VII is evacuated before a Shadow invasion with the help of theWhite Star;(January 8) Babylon 5 War Council established; Alien Berserker probe attempts to destroy Babylon 5; (January) Missionaries of various religions arrive on Babylon 5 to spiritually appreciate the appearance of the "Being of Light."; (January 17) Mad Bomber Robert J. Carlson strikes Babylon 5 after a similar bomb spree on Proxima III; (July 24) Shadows begin attacking openly; (August 4) Vorlons engage a Shadow Fleet; and destroy it; (November) The Army of Light successfully ambushes a Shadow force, killing two battlecruisers and forcing three to retreat.

(February 15) Intercepted transmission released indicating Earth Alliance President Clark's complicity in the assassination of former President Santiago; Medical records relating to Clark's good health prior to his leavetaking of Earth Force One is released; (April 9) Martial Law declared on Earth : Amid riots and civilian discontent, the Earth Senate is dissolved by executive order. The Elite Guard surrounds the Senate building and opens fire. "Renegade" General Hague attacked by Earth Force cruisers, and escapes; (April 12) The Mars Colony is bombed by presidential order for its refusal to implement martial law. Babylon 5 declares independence. from the Earth Alliance along with Orion VII and Proxima III; (April 14) Babylon 5 declares independence from the Earth Alliance. An invasion force sent by President Clark to take direct control of the station is repelled.

(August 5) Vorlon Ambassador Kosh Neranek is assassinated by the Shadows in retaliation for the Vorlons’ Aug. 4 attack; (August 13) Entil'zha Sinclair travels to the past to become Valen, leader of the Minbari one thousand years in the past; (December 21) John Sheridan dies on Z’ha’dum.